Useless

A/N: As always, thank you so much for the reviews on this story, so grateful for those who are keeping up with it and following along. Really makes it worth writing! And also, thank you for the reviews on my other stories such as Finding Home and Safe/Only You. I promise I see every single one and love reading them!

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do." Sheriff Peterson said, sitting in his office with AJ and Punk the next morning.

"That's your response?" Punk asked in disbelief, "There's nothing you can do? Seriously?"

"There isn't." Sheriff Peterson insisted, "There's no evidence to support your claim."

"Isn't it your job to find that evidence?" Punk questioned, "Or are you just too lazy to do some proper police work?"

"Phil." AJ turned to Punk, shaking her head.

"What is it you want me to do? Surrounding police departments are aware of the incident with Craig." Sheriff Peterson said.

"I want you to take this shit seriously. We're telling you this guy might be playing puppet to a rapist in prison. Shouldn't you… I don't know? Investigate that? Take a trip out to New Jersey maybe? Or even call the prison there." Punk shook his head.

"I don't have the resources." Sheriff Peterson shook his head.

"There's a fucking phone sitting right in front of you." Punk pointed to the telephone on the desk.

"Phil." AJ said louder.

"I can't make a case out of breadcrumbs, Mister Brooks." Sheriff Peterson said.

"Then what can you make a case of?" AJ questioned, "I've just sat her and told you something that I've only told a handful of people in my life. Something I really dislike talking about. And I'm telling you I believe that these attacks are linked to my rapist."

"I understand." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "And I'm truly sorry for what you went through. Really, I am. But until we arrest Craig, or we see more evidence that connects him to your rapist… I can't do much." The sheriff said.

"So you're saying we need to wait until something bad happens?" Punk asked, "Is that what you're saying?"

"You couldn't even call New Jersey State Prison?" AJ asked, "Ask a couple of questions? See if Craig was close with… Todd?" She questioned as Sheriff Peterson looked at her, sighing to himself and leaning back on his chair.

"I can make that call." The sheriff nodded, "But unfortunately, that's all I can do. We're a tiny department here. I've got about three cops who work for me. We don't have the funding for trips out to different states." He explained as Punk just rolled his eyes.

"Anything you can do to help, would be appreciated." AJ said.

"I have taken a look at your CCTV footage from outside your café." The sheriff nodded to Punk, opening a folder and taking a grainy pixelated picture out, turning it around to them.

"It's him." Punk concluded. The picture was blurry, but there was no doubt it was Craig standing outside the coffee shop last night.

"Yeah." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "And the video footage shows him getting into a different car. We're trying our best to identify it but… the picture isn't great."

"Have you taken a look for potential stolen cars in the surrounding area?" Punk asked, "If he's just out of prison a few months ago, he's not gonna have money. So my bet is he's stealing."

"Yeah, we're looking at stolen car reports from the past few days." The sheriff nodded, "My question to you, April, is why would this man who attacked you six years ago, be coming after you? Albeit, from behind bars?"

"I think he's figured out my location. My café has been in the newspaper a lot recently. With my picture." AJ said, "He's either just… taking pleasure in tormenting me or he wants something from me. A change in statement. A letter of forgiveness. Something that will help him reduce his sentence." She shrugged.

"And he's sending Craig? A potential prison friend, to do that?" The Sheriff asked.

"That's what I think. Out of all the prisons in the US, Craig just so happens to have carried out most of his sentence in New Jersey State?" AJ asked, "I'd be a fool not to think this is to do with Todd."

"Why did he get transferred anyway?" Punk asked, "Surely it says on a report somewhere."

"It's just listed as overcrowding." Sheriff Peterson said, "Big problem in prisons all over the country."

"Maybe you could have those three cops who work for you patrolling the town regularly, to keep an eye on things?" AJ suggested, "Since the attacks, I haven't seen much of their presence." She said as Sheriff Peterson nodded slowly.

"Yeah… I'll have them out making regular checks." He said, "And I will… give New Jersey State Prison a call. But you should remember that the man who attacked you is locked up. He can't get to you."

"No, but there's somewhere out there who can. And that's not comforting." AJ said, "Thank you for your time, Sheriff." AJ nodded politely, standing up and heading for the door as Punk got up and followed her.

They headed out of the small sheriff's building, Punk's arm immediately going around AJ and holding her close to him.

"He's as useful as a chocolate tea pot." Punk shook his head as AJ nodded in agreement, "I know that wasn't easy. Talking about your attack." He said, stopping outside the building for some fresh air.

"It wasn't." AJ said, "But it's done now."

"You don't seem surprised at how unhelpful he was." He pointed out.

"Because I'm not." AJ said, "It was the same when I was attacked. Treated like an inconvenience. Like I was wasting people's time." She folded her arms, "And they wonder why people don't come forward when they've been sexually assaulted."

"I'm sorry." He sighed, "I just hate that you have to deal with this shit. It's not fair. And I feel useless to you right now."

"Hey, you're not useless to me." AJ looked up at him, "You have no idea the comfort you bring me. Having you next to me in there. Or telling me all your awful dad jokes last night in bed. Doing your best to comfort me." She smiled, "You are not useless."

"Were they awful? I thought they were quite good." Punk scoffed as she smiled, "If you wanted to take the day off, I'm sure Lyla can hold the fort at The Brewberry." He said.

"No, I'd rather keep busy." AJ said, "And Lyla promised she'd have French Toast waiting for me when I got over there." She nodded, "I think everyone wants me to get fat."

"No, they want the babies to get fat." Punk corrected, "You need double the energy carrying those little beans around with you."

"Yeah, I know." AJ nodded, "Do you really think he'll call New Jersey State Prison?" AJ asked, beginning to walk down the street in direction of their coffee shops.

"He better." Punk said, "And he better follow up on any stolen cars nearby. Could give them a shot at finding Craig."

"I think Mister Eckle's cows would serve as better law enforcement for this town." AJ shook her head.

"Yeah, no kidding." Punk shook his head, "Regardless of how useful he is, I'm proud of you for going in there and talking about your attack. It's the bravest thing I've seen anybody do." He told her honestly as she leaned her head against his arm.

"Wouldn't have been able to do that a year ago." She admitted truthfully, "And last night, it felt like the easiest option was to curl in a ball and hope it all went away. But that's not going to help. I want to make sure I do everything to find this guy." She nodded.

"If that tool doesn't find him then I will." Punk promised her.

"I don't need you getting into trouble." She poked his side.

"I'll get into all the trouble in the world if it means making you feel safer." Punk said as she smiled.

"I know." She nodded, walking along the street with him.

They were almost at their coffee shops when they saw Daryl pull up in his mom's car outside Punk's coffee shop, busted for being late. An hour late.

"Busted!" Punk yelled loudly as Daryl turned around, rolling his eyes as AJ laughed a little.

"Finn said you were starting late." Daryl said.

"Yeah. It's late now." Punk said, "Have ourselves a sleepover, did we?" He raised a brow.

"Yeah. I slept at Shiv's dorm." Daryl said, "Slept. Eyes closed." He emphasised, cracking his neck and wincing a little as AJ frowned.

"Did you sleep on the floor?" AJ laughed.

"No. But Shiv fell asleep on me so I couldn't move for the rest of the night. My neck hurts." He whined, "And she had Harry Potter on as white noise." He placed his hands over his face, "Stupid specky wizard."

"Hey. Too far." AJ scolded, "How was she, anyway? If Harry Potter was on, I'm assuming she's feeling shit like we suspected?"

"Yeah, she's not feeling great." Daryl nodded, "But, I managed to convince her to come home for Christmas." He said.

Before leaving Shiv's dorm room, he'd asked her if she wanted him to tell AJ about the email she'd received, but she insisted she wanted to tell AJ herself, face to face, and so Daryl wasn't going to mention anything.

"Well that's good." Punk nodded, "At least you got through to her."

"Yeah, it took a while." Daryl said, "I haven't showered, by the way."

"Nice." Punk nodded.

"Did you suggest that she maybe speaks to a councillor about her attack?" AJ asked Daryl.

"Yeah, but you know how she is. Stubborn." Daryl said, "What are you two doing starting work late anyway?" He asked curiously.

"Just… having a slow morning." AJ nodded to him.

Last night, AJ and Punk had decided, along with Lyla and Nico, to not tell anyone else about the connection they'd made between Craig and AJ's attacker. Mainly because AJ didn't want to disclose that information to anyone else, and also because they didn't want anyone to worry. It felt like the right thing to do for now.

"When is Shiv coming home then?" Punk asked Daryl.

"I'm going to pick her up the week before Christmas." Daryl said, "She's going to come to my house for Christmas dinner since her parents are out of town."

"I'm glad." AJ nodded, "I'm really missing her. How is she doing with her college work? She's not falling behind is she?"

"No, she's doing good. Studying her butt off." Daryl nodded, "She's just felt a little on edge ever since the attack."

"I don't blame her." AJ said, "Thank you for going to check on her."

"I wanted to, anyway." Daryl nodded, "She sends her love. She told me to hug you all for her, but I haven't showered, and I don't want you to smell me." He admitted as Punk rolled his eyes.

"Then take your smelly ass home and shower before you come to work." Punk said, watching Daryl sniff his armpits, which made AJ laugh a little.

"Yeah, I probably should." Daryl nodded, "I'll be as quick as I can." He said, hopping back into his mom's car and driving off as Punk shook his head.

"At least he got through to her." AJ said with relief, "And she's coming home for Christmas."

"Yeah, I figured he'd give her some tough love." Punk nodded.

"You really think they just… slept?" AJ asked curiously.

"Yeah. He'd tell us otherwise. The kid can't keep anything to himself." Punk shook his head as AJ smiled.

"Hey!" Lyla yelled, coming out of The Brewberry across the road, "This French Toast isn't going to eat itself. Get in here." She said as AJ smiled.

"I'll be there in a second." AJ assured her as Lyla disappeared back into the café.

"Go feed those babies." Punk agreed as AJ nodded, "And go easy on yourself today. Yeah?"

"Yeah." AJ nodded, leaning up and kissing him softly, cupping his cheeks, enjoying the feeling of his body pressed against hers, one of her favourite feelings in the world being embraced by him.

They pulled apart, about to go their separate ways when AJ noticed a sheriff car parking up outside her coffee shop across the road. She looked over at the police man behind the wheel who just gave her a friendly salute.

"Talk about attracting attention." AJ said.

"At least he's doing something." Punk nodded, pleasantly surprised as AJ nodded.

"Yeah. It's a step in the right direction." She nodded, feeling a tiny bit safer.